By Dan Hock
2022 Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year to Make MLB Debut with First Appearance
ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 28, 2024 – The St. Louis Cardinals today announced that they selected right-handed pitcher Gordon Graceffo from Memphis (AAA), optioned right-handed pitcher Kyle Leahy to Memphis, and transferred left-handed pitcher Steven Matz from the 15-Day to the 60-Day Injured List.
The 23-year-old Graceffo (pronounced gruh-SEFF-oh) has gone 8-5 with a 3.84 ERA (75.0 IP) and 70 strikeouts over 14 starts out of the Memphis rotation this season, sharing the Triple-A lead in victories (8) while ranking among qualified leaders in opposing OPS (.686, 4th) and ERA (10th). Since June 1, the Cardinals No. 8 prospect is 4-0 with 2.05 ERA (22.0 IP) and 21 strikeouts in four starts, which includes an active 11.0 innings scoreless streak over his last two appearances.
The Cardinals 2021 fifth round selection from Villanova University has appeared as a starter in 59 of 72 career outings over his four-year professional career, and was named the 2022 Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Graceffo will wear uniform number 67.
When his first appearance, Graceffo will become the seventh Cardinal to make his Major League debut this season, joining outfielder Victor Scott II, catcher Pedro Pagés, and pitchers Ryan Fernandez, Adam Kloffenstein, Chris Roycoft, and Ryan Loutos.
Leahy, who recently set single-game career highs in innings pitched (3.0) and pitches (55) in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, has appeared in 17 games out of the Cardinals bullpen this season, ranking among National League rookie relievers in average against (.226, 9th), WHIP (1.09, 4th), and baserunners/9 IP (9.85, 4th).
Additionally, St. Louis sent outfielder Lars Nootbaar to Springfield (AA) today to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment. Nootbaar has missed the previous 25 games due to an oblique strain suffered on May 29.
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